Controlled multi-pharmaceutical inhaler

Abstract

A powdered pharmaceutical inhaler (2) includes a source of pressurized gas (4), a pharmaceutical transfer assembly (104) and a mouthpiece assembly (106). The pharmaceutical transfer assembly includes a pharmaceutical reservoir (172, 174) containing undivided supplies of at least one pharmaceutical (173, 175). Quantities of the pharmaceutical are transferred from the pharmaceutical reservoir to an entrainment region along a flow path (188) through the inhaler by one or more dosing members (120-128). By using multiple reservoirs with different pharmaceuticals, a variable dose can be simultaneously inhaled in a single application. An auxiliary ambient air flow path (238) can be used to surround the pressurized gas flow path at the exit of the inhaler. A view port (184) can be used to visually inspect the entrainment region for the presence and amount of pharmaceutical to be inhaled. A preferred embodiment pocket sized and streamlined embodiment includes air compression for assisted inhalation combined with dosing member loading. In the streamlined embodiment, after air compression, an air valve activated by inhalation entrains powered medication in the dosing members for inhalation and consequent dispensing of the prescriptive dosage to the patient.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A pharmaceutical inhaler comprising: a gas source;   a main housing having an entrance and an exit and defining a gas flow path from the entrance to the exit, the gas flow path defining an entrainment region therealong, the entrance fluidly coupled to the gas source;   first and second reservoirs carried by the main housing;   first and second supplies of first and second powdered pharmaceuticals within the first and second reservoirs respectively;   a pharmaceutical transfer assembly including a plurality of dosing members each having a pharmaceutical receptacle, the dosing members being moveable between pharmaceutical pickup positions, at which a quantity of each of the first and second pharmaceuticals is transferred from the first and second reservoirs to the pharmaceutical receptacle, and use positions, at which the quantities of the pharmaceuticals are positioned at an entrainment region along the flow path;   a dosing member driver which moves selected ones of the dosing members between the pharmaceutical pickup positions and the use positions so to select the quantities of the pharmaceuticals positioned at the entrainment region of the flow path;   whereby a gas flowing along the gas flow path from the entrance to the exit entrains the quantity of pharmaceutical at the entrainment region so to deliver said quantity of pharmaceutical to a user through the exit; and   the dosing members being moveable back to the pharmaceutical pickup positions and then back to the use positions at which a second quantity of the pharmaceutical is positioned at the entrainment region for subsequent entrainment by a second gas flow along the gas flow path.   
     
     
       2. The inhaler of claim 1 wherein the exit includes a mouthpiece. 
     
     
       3. The inhaler of claim 1 wherein the source of gas includes a source of uncompressd air. 
     
     
       4. The inhaler of claim 1 wherein the source of gas includes a source of compressed gas. 
     
     
       5. The inhaler of claim 4 wherein the source of compressed gas includes a piston and cylinder arrangement. 
     
     
       6. The inhaler of claim 4 further comprising a trigger assembly, including a user-actuated trigger, operably coupled to the source of compressed gas to permit a quantity of compressed gas to be directed along the gas flow path upon actuation of the trigger. 
     
     
       7. The inhaler of claim 6 wherein the trigger is an air flow actuated trigger. 
     
     
       8. The inhaler of claim 6 wherein the user-activated trigger includes a trigger disc movable between a first position, at which the gas source is fluidly coupled to the entrainment region, and a second position, at which the gas source is fluidly isolated from the entrainment region, the trigger disc being movable from the second position to the first position upon inhalation at the exit by a user. 
     
     
       9. The inhaler of claim 1 wherein the pharmaceutical receptacle is defined by an opening formed in a surface of the dosing member. 
     
     
       10. The inhaler of claim 9 wherein the dosing member is an elongate member. 
     
     
       11. The inhaler of claim 9 wherein the surface of the dosing member is an upper surface. 
     
     
       12. The inhaler of claim 11 wherein a reservoir overlies the dosing member, the reservoir having an open bottom which overlies the pharmaceutical receptacle when the dosing member is at the pharmaceutical pickup position. 
     
     
       13. The inhaler of claim 1 wherein the dosing member driver includes a main driver and means for selectively coupling said selected ones of the dosing members to the main driver. 
     
     
       14. The inhaler of claim 13 wherein the selectively coupling means includes pins threadably mounted to at least the selected ones of the dosing members, the pins being manipulatable to engagement with either of the main driver or the main housing. 
     
     
       15. The inhaler of claim 1 further comprising a diffuser positioned along the flow path between the entrainment region and the exit, the diffuser configured to slow fluid flow of gas and entrained pharmaceutical. 
     
     
       16. The inhaler of claim 1 further comprising a secondary gas flow path completely circumscribing the flow path along at least a part of a length of the flow path, the secondary gas flow path extending between the exit and a secondary entrance. 
     
     
       17. The inhaler of claim 16 wherein including a secondary entrance opening into the ambient environment. 
     
     
       18. The inhaler of claim 1 further comprising a view port, carried by the main housing, for viewing a pharmaceutical receptacle of the dosing member with pharmaceutical therein. 
     
     
       19. The inhaler of claim 18 wherein the view port includes a magnifying lens element. 
     
     
       20. The inhaler of claim 18 wherein the view port is situated at the entrainment region of the flow path. 
     
     
       21. The inhaler of claim 18 wherein the dosing member is of a color which contrasts with the color of the pharmaceutical to aid viewing the quantity of the pharmaceutical. 
     
     
       22. A pharmaceutical inhaler comprising: a pressurized gas source;   a main housing having an entrance and an exit and defining a gas flow path from the entrance to the exit, the entrance fluidly coupled to the pressurized gas source;   first and second reservoirs carried by the main housing;   first and second supplies of first and second pharmaceuticals within the first and second reservoirs respectively;   a pharmaceutical transfer assembly including a plurality of dosing members each having a pharmaceutical receptacle, the dosing members being moveable between pharmaceutical pickup positions, at which a quantity of each of the first and second pharmaceuticals is transferred from the first and second reservoirs to the pharmaceutical receptacles, and a use position, at which the quantities of the pharmaceuticals are positioned at an entrainment region along the flow path;   a dosing member drive which moves selected ones of the dosing members between the pharmaceutical pickup positions and the use positions so to select the quantity of the pharmaceuticals positioned at the entrainment region of the flow path;   a secondary gas flow path circumscribing the flow path along at least a part of the length of the flow path, the secondary gas flow path extending between the exit and a secondary entrance opening to the ambient atmosphere;   a view port, carried by the main housing, for viewing the pharmaceutical receptacles of the dosing member at the entrainment region;   whereby a gas flowing along the gas flow path from the entrance to the exit entrains the quantities of pharmaceutical at the entrainment region so to deliver said quantities of pharmaceutical to a user through the exit; and   the dosing members being moveable back to the pharmaceutical pickup positions and then back to the use positions at which second quantities of the pharmaceuticals are positioned at the entrainment region for subsequent entrainment by a second gas flow along the gas flow path.   
     
     
       23. A method for inhaling a dose of first and second powdered pharmaceuticals comprising the following steps: providing an inhaler with first and second supplies of the first and second powdered pharmaceuticals, each said supply sufficient for a plurality of said doses;   removing first and second quantities of the first and second pharmaceuticals from the first and second supplies of the first and second pharmaceuticals, respectively;   positioning the first and second quantities at an entrainment region along a gas flow path within the inhaler; generating a gas flow along the gas flow path;   entraining the first and second quantities within the gas flow; and   inhaling the first and second quantities of the pharmaceuticals entrained in the gas flow.   
     
     
       24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of viewing at least one of said first and second quantities prior to the entraining step. 
     
     
       25. The method of claim 24 wherein the viewing step is carried out by viewing at least one of said first and second quantities on a contrasting color background. 
     
     
       26. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of providing a secondary flow path substantially completely surrounding at least a portion of the gas flow path. 
     
     
       27. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of lowering a speed of the gas flow and entrained pharmaceutical prior to inhaling the chosen quantity. 
     
     
       28. A method for inhaling a dose of a pharmaceutical comprising the following steps: providing an inhaler with a gas flow path and first and second supplies of first and second pharmaceuticals, said supplies each sufficient for a plurality of said doses;   providing a secondary flow path substantially completely surrounding at least a portion of the gas flow path;   removing chosen quantities of the first and second pharmaceuticals from said supplies;   positioning the chosen quantities at an entrainment region along a gas flow path within the inhaler;   viewing the chosen quantities;   entraining the chosen quantities within a gas flow;   lowering a speed of the gas flow and entrained pharmaceuticals prior to the inhaling step; and   inhaling the chosen quantities of the pharmaceutical entrained in the gas flow.